Medieval Torture Museum, Medieval history museum in St. Augustine, Florida, United States

The Medieval Torture Museum is a museum in the historic center of St. Augustine, Florida, displaying replicas of punishment and restraint devices used in Europe during the medieval and early modern periods. The exhibits cover a wide range of instruments and are accompanied by written explanations of their historical use.

The museum opened in St. Augustine in 2017 and is part of a network of similar venues found in several European and American cities. The objects on display are replicas made from historical sources and written records rather than original artifacts.

The museum's motto, "Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it," frames the visit: visitors play executioner or victim, sitting in the spiked chair of inquiries, posing in the "barrel for drunkards" or weighing themselves on scales to see if they are too heavy to be deemed a witch. Mannequins in period costume carry each character's story of life, occupation and the crime that led to sentence.

The exhibits show detailed depictions of violence and suffering, so the museum is not recommended for young children or people who are sensitive to graphic content. Reading the explanatory panels carefully helps put each object in its proper context.

Several of the most recognized devices on display, including the iron maiden, are now believed by historians to have been assembled in the 19th century for exhibition purposes rather than actual use. This means some of the objects carry a history of their own as curiosities rather than as tools of punishment.